Scholarships for disadvantaged students as new school year starts

Scholarships for disadvantaged students as new school year starts (Photo:VNA)

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NDO/VNA – The National Fund for Vietnamese Children presented 50 bicycles, each worth over VND 1.7 million (US$75), and 50 school bags to needy children in the central province of Quang Nam, at a ceremony on August 31, ahead of the new school year.

This is part of a charity programme jointly funded by the fund and the Quang Nam province Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Bao Viet Life Insurance Company.

In 2017, the programme will present 1,700 bicycles and 1,700 school bags for students nationwide, worth over VND 3.6 billion (US$ 158,000).

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs Dang Thuan Phong said at the ceremony that over 200,000 children across the country drop out of school each year due to the long distance from their houses to their school. The donation of bicycles to needy children is hoped to help them continue to go to school.

In a similar move, 300 gifts, including 150 scholarships, each worth VND1 million, and 150 bicycles, each worth VND 1.7 million were presented to outstanding students from disadvantaged backgrounds in seven districts and cities in the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu.

According to Tran Hong Chien, Director of the Bac Lieu province Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, so far, over 3,500 needy students in the province have received assistance, in an effort to help them overcome the difficulties in their lives.